Insomnia... and the Waiterrant

I have never really had insomnia, except for a day here or there, but always rarely, until this last week.

It started Friday night, in Sacramento. I figured it was a combination of heat and hay fever. Saturday and Sunday were a little better, but not much. I get to sleep fine and then wake up around 3am. And stay up until 5am. Last night I was able to mostly sleep through the night, but I still woke up every so often, something I generally don't do.

Tonight I was up at 2:30, and have been totally unable to get back to sleep.

I am pretty hopeful that this will pass, but in the meantime I am going to make the best of it, and try to get things done.

Tonight, for instance, I read through the entire comments for a couple of The Waiter's recent posts.

The Waiterrant is a fun read: the Waiter is a fantastic writer, but of a Hemingway stripe. You read him and think "what a jerk" for the most part, except for a couple of brief moments when you think "ah, this guy might not be all evil after all."

Of course the best way to appreciate his own perspective is to read the comments from his fellow waitrons in the comments box. Their sense of entitlement makes the host's seem insignificant. Hell, after a couple of these guys I thought "the host comes accross as a gentleman."

My biggest gripe with the Waiter is his concept of his right to a good tip. Now, there are some social justice issues involved in tipping in this country, and we have allowed a wretched system to take root where the establishment barely pays its employees, placing the burden on the customer. This is problematic, because, as The Waiter is very happy to point out, there are some unreasonable jerks out there in customer land. The solution would to have a fixed service charge, which would be split in a controlled manner, determined by statute, so that owners could not skim (owners who take part of the tips are, by definition, scumbags, and I even include the owners of one of my favorite North Beach Italian restaurants in this category).

So, we do have a problem where something that was intended to be a bonus, a reward for exceptional service, becomes an integral part of the waitrons' livelihoods. And, as a result, we have had an ever-increasing standard for tipping. I remember when 10% was considered fair. Then 15% (which is where I take my stand, and will not budge, although I tend to double the ever-increasing sales tax, more as a matter of convenience, so in the City, the waitron gets about 17%, which is often outlandish, but easier to calculate in my head). Now I see folks advocating 18% or 20%, which I can live with when it is service from a real pro giving his all (you take my dirty fork off my plate and put it on the table for the next course, and you are back in 10% land immediately, or, if I am feeling charitable, I will drop it on the floor and request a clean one. And no, I am not a particularly difficult customer, but abominations are abominations, and I will not let you get away with that one).

I also take deductions off the standard for ignorance, especially when it comes with arrogance, excessive slowness (although I can live with that, so long as the atmosphere is good and I have something to eat or drink), rushing (much graver sin), frequent mistakes (especially if the waitron was showing off his memory by not using a pad), etc.

The one time I will not take a deduction off for bad service is when it is really bad service at a restaurant I am reviewing. In those cases I give a standard tip and then go home and tell half a million of my closest friends all about it.

So, anyway, I might add Waiterrant as a regular link on the site. Or not, if I cannot take his whiny sense of entitlement. We'll see how I see it after a good night's sleep.